We have to applaud our MTV News colleague Jim Cantiello for the “Burning Questions” segment of his interview with X Factor judges L.A. Reid and Simon Cowell—mainly because he found a way to talk about unsung jams, and we love jams. First: did you know that X Factor contestant Stacy Francis was once Stacy X of early-nineties new jack swing quartet Ex Girlfriend? Neither Reid nor Cowell did. (Nor had we!) Cantiello did, though, and cited an Isley Brothers remix as a particular favorite. It turns out that Ex Girlfriend were launched by Full Force, whom we remember for their work with Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, but whom you might remember for their scene-stealing moments in House Party, or their colorful videos.

Cantiello didn’t stop there, either: he brought up The Deele! Long before L.A. told Pink she’d be a pop star, he was a drummer for the Deele alongside his songwriting partner Babyface. Of course, once they wrote “Girlfriend” for Pebbles, they were off to the races. But we still have a copy of Eyes Of A Stranger, and from the sound of it, Jim Cantiello does too.